E-Biking Colorado Springs: Trails, Class Rules, and What to Pack
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Here is the short version. On City of Colorado Springs trails, Class 1 e-bikes (pedal assist only, help cuts off at 20 mph, no throttle) are allowed on select urban and regional trails shown on the city’s interactive map. Class 2 and Class 3 stay banned on city trails, and every class is banned on city open space. On El Paso County primary and secondary trails, Class 1 and Class 2 are allowed up to 20 mph; Class 3 is not. If you want one paved loop first, take the Santa Fe Regional Trail north, or the dedicated paved path through Garden of the Gods if you came for the red rocks.
Pick your ride
- Visitor, first afternoon: Garden of the Gods paved path, or rent from Amp’d at the visitor center if you did not bring a bike.
- Weekday local loop: Santa Fe Regional Trail north from downtown toward the Air Force Academy.
- Gravel north: Still Santa Fe, but plan for goatheads and spotty cell service past the Academy.
- Overnight + easy miles: Meadow Ridge near Rampart Reservoir, then ride the campground roads the next morning.
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City vs county rules (the part people get wrong)
The sticker on your bike is not the whole story. A Class 2 can be legal on a county primary trail and illegal on a city trail or open space. Check which agency owns the path, then the map, not the marketing sheet that came with the bike.
| Where | What’s allowed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| City urban / regional trails (mapped) | Class 1 only, as of July 1, 2025 | coloradosprings.gov/Ebikes |
| City open space | No e-bikes of any class | Same city page |
| El Paso County primary / secondary trails | Class 1 and Class 2, max 20 mph | County parks / Pikes Peak Outdoors trail notes |
| County trails, Class 3 | Not permitted | County guidance |
City Phase 2 is still reviewing more trails, including some TOPS and conservation-easement properties. Until a trail shows on the official map as open to Class 1, treat it as closed to e-bikes.
The loops I actually point people to
Santa Fe Regional Trail
This is the ride I do most. Paved, mostly flat to gently rolling, downtown north toward the Academy with the option to keep going toward Monument if battery and legs agree. Give yourself two to three hours if you want to stop and look around. Helmet rules on Academy property are real, and access can change, so stay on the trail and read the posted signs.
Garden of the Gods paved path
On July 16, 2026 I was still telling people the same thing: the dedicated paved bike path stays separated from car traffic even on busy days, and that is why the ride stays enjoyable when the main loop road is packed. Stay on the paved path and park roads. Do not take an e-bike onto the hiking trails. Park speed limit is 20 mph, including e-bikes, per Garden of the Gods bike tour page. For parking timing, see free parking at Garden of the Gods.
Pikes Peak Greenway, Midland, Rock Island, Templeton Gap, Cottonwood Creek
These are the urban connectors most visitors mean when they say “ride across town.” Surface and ownership mix city and county segments, so the Class rule can change when you cross a boundary. Use the city map for city segments and treat county primary/secondary segments as Class 1 or 2 up to 20 mph. Pack water; restrooms are sparse on several of these corridors.
Nearby overnight: Meadow Ridge / Rampart
June 7–8, 2026 I stayed at Meadow Ridge Campground near Rampart Reservoir and took a full morning just to e-bike the campground roads and nearby graded miles. It is close enough from the west side for a spontaneous overnight, and it is not a substitute for the city trail map. Details and road notes: Rampart Range Road guide.
Rentals if you did not bring a bike
Amp’d Adventures is the official biking partner at the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center. Their own rentals page says self-guided e-bike rentals stay on paved paths only, with a two-hour minimum. A licensed adult 25 or older signs; e-bike riders need to be 16 or older with a license. They also list a second shop at 3040 W Colorado Ave. I have not rented from them on a dated visit in this archive, so treat hours and prices as theirs to confirm.
A few other shops worth knowing about, prices checked straight off each one's own site on Oct 2, 2026. Rocke Mountain Bike delivers anywhere in Colorado Springs, Monument, Cañon City, or Pueblo: 2 hours $99, 4 hours $129, 8 hours $149, multi-day $149 the first day then $50 a day, or a guided 3-hour ride for $139. Routes Outfitter in Monument rents real eMTB or e-gravel bikes if you want technical trail riding, not just a paved path: eMTB $155 a day, e-gravel $145 a day, e-cruiser $65 for 4 hours or $85 a day. PikeRide is the city's public e-bike share, with stations downtown and in Manitou Springs, good for a quick spontaneous ride, not a long Santa Fe Trail run. Manitou E-Bike Co rents out of Manitou Springs if you are already down there, and Broadmoor Outfitters rents to resort guests who want a nicer bike. Rates on these three move often enough that I would rather send you to call than hand you a number that is already stale.
If you would rather skip the logistics completely, there is a guided Garden of the Gods e-bike tour on Viator that handles the bike, the route, and the photo stops.
When to ride, and what earns a spot on the bike
I prefer weekday mornings. Fall is my favorite season on these paths. North gravel stretches grow goatheads, and summer afternoons bring storms that show up faster than the forecast suggested. Colorado Springs sits around 6,000 feet, so visitors feel climbs sooner even with assist. None of that needs a shopping cart. The five items below are the ones that solve problems these trails actually create.
- A well-vented helmet, non-negotiable in traffic and on shared paths.
- A solid U-lock, for coffee or visitor-center stops.
- USB rechargeable lights, for early starts and late returns.
- A phone mount, for the map without digging in a pocket mid-path.
- A compact flat-repair kit, because goatheads north of town are real.
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Bottom line
Check the agency and the map first. Then ride Santa Fe for the local loop, or Garden of the Gods paved path if the rocks are the point. Keep Class 2 off city trails, keep everything off city open space, and leave room in the day for a storm or a flat.
More Colorado Springs Guides
- Free parking at Garden of the Gods
- Rampart Range Road
- 50 free things to do
- Scenic drives near Colorado Springs
Author: Dominic